Note from Heidi: Oh boy! This blog post from Melanie Johnson totally cracked me up! I love the signs and can just imagine the mix of emotions they inspire. I am often amused by the things that happen around my home, but I often forget to take note of it, either with my camera or my journal. This post is a great reminder to capture the small moments in life as they happen.

Melanie Johnson

Beware! Top Secret!

Just a few weeks ago, we moved our oldest son into his own room. From the time his middle brother grew out of the crib, he has always shared a room with at least one of his brothers; for the last couple of years, he's shared a room with both of them. We decided that it seemed time for him to move out and get his own room, so I moved my studio out of the spare downstairs bedroom and turned it over to him.

I knew he would quickly make it his own, but I didn't realize how soon he would become protective of his space. Less than a week later, I was amused to find these two signs stuck to the door:

I have a bittersweet feeling that this is just the first of many doors to my son's world that will slowly close to me as he gets older. Too bad I'm not 2!

- Melanie

Scrap Girls, Etc. is a weekly column pulling bits and pieces from all over Scrap Girls. Stay tuned each week as Scrap Girls' Jane-of-All-Trades Heidi Dillon brings you tutorials, musings, recipes, interviews, design/software tips and tricks, layout walk-throughs, and who knows what else!

SCRAP GIRLS CLUB

Join the Scrap Girls Monthly Club and you can have fun with the newest traditional digital and printable scrapbooking looks while saving! (A $27.94 value for $9.99 or less!)

The Scrap Girls Club contents are released on the 1st day of the month (or the closest business day to the 1st).

With the Scrap Girls Club, you will receive:

1 Collection Biggie
1 Paper Super Mini
1 8.5x11 Sheet of Word Art
1 Embellishment Set
1 Assemble Your Own Zoom Page Set
1 Designer's Choice Item

Layout by Erica Hite using September's Scrap Girls Club
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Created for you by Erica Hite

If you prefer not to join a club, the Scrap Girls Club contents are available at regular prices in the Boutique. You can easily find them right now by checking the What's New? section of the Boutique.

Note: The Scrap Girls Club contents are always available for sale elsewhere in the Boutique at their regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never-seen-before product releases for each month!

SCRAPSIMPLE CLUB

Join the ScrapSimple Monthly Club and you can enjoy the newest ScrapSimple looks while saving! (A $13.95 value for $6.99 or less!)

The new ScrapSimple Club contents are released on the 15th day of the month (or the closest business day to the 15th).

With the ScrapSimple Club, you will receive:

1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set
1 ScrapSimple Embellishment Template
1 Brush Set
2 Designer's Choice Item

A commercially licensed version of the ScrapSimple Club is also available here.

Layout by Brandie Valenzuela using August's ScrapSimple Club
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Created for you by Thao Cosgrove and Brandie Valenzuela

If you prefer not to join a club, the ScrapSimple Club contents are available at regular prices in the Boutique. You can easily find them right now by checking the What's New? section of the Boutique.

Note: The ScrapSimple Club contents are always available for sale in the Boutique at regular prices once the associated club month is released. But all club contents are totally brand new, never-seen-before product releases for each month!

Brushes

Ever since I discovered digital scrapbooking brushes, I fell in love with them. Brushes are like stamps that let you choose their color, shape, direction, and size. Brushes are extremely versatile. Nothing else offers you as much creative control or can be used in as many different ways as brushes. All you need to do is use your imagination.

In this article, I'll show you how to use multiple brushes on a layout without overloading the visual space.

First, I started by picking my photo and my background paper. I chose to work with a large photo, and in this case, I wanted to use brushes to emphasize and highlight the photo.

As always, I started by making a new layer on which to use my brush, because if you make a mistake, you can just delete the layer without spoiling the rest of the layout. I created a new layer on top of my background paper. For this, I went to Layer> New> Layer.

I chose to start with Brush Set: Grungy Brackets Journaling Blocks. I selected the brush I wanted and applied it on my layout. Next, I painted it blue by clicking on the layer of the brush and clicking Layer> Layer Style> Color Overlay. I chose the color blue and clicked "OK."

I created a new layer and applied Brush Set: Chainlink on the left side of the layout, above the photo. This time I chose to apply a style on it, instead of painting it.

On the left side of the photo, I applied Brush Set: Nearly Taped. I applied the brush twice and then painted it a mustard color. To frame the photo and the paper background, I used Brush Set: 4x6 Inky. To make the brush the size I wanted, I selected the brush layer and went to Edit> Transform> Scale. I painted brown on the photo frame and dark gray on the frame of the background paper.

To finish, I added only a few elements to my layout because the brushes had already done a wonderful job.

Are you new to digital scrapbooking or do you want to take your digital layouts to a new level? Check out the incredible tutorials on Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed and MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

Layout by Gisele Queiroz
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Grungy Brackets Journaling Blocks, Brush Set: Chainlink, Brush Set: Nearly Taped, Brush Set: 4x6 Inky, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Metals III Rust 8501 Biggie, Boys 2 Men Collection Biggie and Basic: Black Paper Mini are also available.

Article written by Gisele Queiroz

FREE STARTER KIT

Free eBook "starter kit" turns your dreams of digital scrapbooking into reality today!

This dynamite eBook is 65 pages - packed full of the information, ideas, and help people need when they are about to dive into this great hobby. It answers all of the important questions new digital scrapbookers have. They are all here for you - in one easy to use eBook!

Bonus! Download the free "Warning" Label, too. It was created for you by Valerie Randall as a little bit of extra fun!

Would you like a chance to try digital scrapbooking yourself?

Scrap Girls' Refresh Collection Biggie offers you free samples of some of our most popular product types. Try making a layout, your own paper with a ScrapSimple Paper Template, a fast layout with a ScrapSimple Digital Layout Template, or experiment with a brush.

We know you'll love digital scrapbooking as much as we do, and we have thousands of products to feed your new addiction!

Ready to Take Off? In-depth Tutorials Help You Become a Great Digital Scrapbooker

Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop
NEWLY UPDATED! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements
Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Paint Shop Pro X (XI)

Find out what tens of thousands of people have already learned: Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed is the fastest way to learn how to create digital scrapbooking layouts. And because this series covers so many topics with one purchase, it is a bargain!

In the tutorials, you'll see Ro working on her computer and hear her talking about why she is doing what she is doing. It's like having Ro come to your home and give you private scrapbooking lessons. You can create digital scrapbooking layouts today!

Download and CD versions available.

Photoshop and Photoshop Elements users receive:

30-31 movie tutorials
Companion eBook(s)
Collections
Other supplies

Paint Shop Pro users receive 31 movie tutorials.

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed!

MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop
MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed! for Adobe Photoshop Elements

Now that you've learned the basics of digital scrapbooking with Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, you are ready to learn advanced skills for having even more fun while you create digital scrapbooking layouts!

Get a big boost learning how to use ScrapSimple products to make your own backgrounds, embellishments, and alphas with the MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements movie tutorial series. You'll learn so much that your digital scrapbooking layouts will never be the same!

eBooks

Scrap Girls offers a large catalog of eBooks covering topics that will expand your digital scrapbooking abilities to new heights. Here are just a few samples:

Scrap Girls 2009 Digital Scrap Link Class: Combining ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates

Learn how you can combine ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates to create your own unique layout template written by Angie Briggs. In this class, you will learn some tricks of combining 2, 3 (or even more) layout templates and templates of all sizes to create your own unique digital layout template.

Word Play: Creative Text Techniques eBook

Would you like to take your layouts up a notch? Can you imagine your boring old title transformed into an impressive visual element on your page? This digital scrapbooking ebook will show you how!

Scrap Girls Tutorials & Way Cool Stuff eBook Set
2009 - 4th Quarter

Subscribers to the Scrap Girls Newsletter have one thing in common: They love to learn new techniques! Each issue shares ideas, tutorials, and new ways to use Scrap Girls quality digital scrapbooking products. Now you can have all those past tutorials and Way Cool Stuff articles of the 4th Quarter of 2009 in one convenient PDF format.

Start to Finish eBooklets

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Make a Birthday Scrapbook Page

Nothing could be simpler than learning to scrapbook digitally with Scrap Girls Start to Finish eBooklets. Step by step written guidelines and detailed screenshots will help you learn new digital scrapbooking skills. Included with the eBooklet are the actual digital files you need to create a finished project!

See more titles

Layout by Julie White
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Designer Freebie by Julie White coordinates with her School Memories Collection

* There is a "free download" button on the details page for each gift. You don't need to put them in your shopping cart unless you are shopping for other items. Also note that if you are slow reading your newsletter, you may find this freebie has already been retired, as the freebies are only available as gifts for about two newsletter cycles.

CROPS AND CHATS

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, September 9th - 2:00PM MT

What is NSBR? It's a non-scrapbooking related chat! We talk about everything, including some scrapbooking and usually chocolate. It's a great chance to meet new friends, catch up on what everyone is up to, and just relax! If you have a problem, we'll lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. Have some great news to share? We'd love to celebrate with you. So join Pat (PBarnes) at 2pm MT in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Sketch Challenge Crop
Thursday, September 9th - 7:00PM MT

Join Marnie (sprinklz) for the Sketch Challenge and Crop on Thursday, September 9th at 7pm MT in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! Like getting a little jump start on your layouts? Then this challenge is for you! A few hours before the challenge begins, Marnie will post a sketch for you to use as the starting point for your page. You can be inspired by the basic arrangement, the amount of photos, or copy it literally. All interpretations are welcome and encouraged!

What's New in the Boutique Chat
Friday, September 10th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) at 9am MT on Friday mornings to chat about all the cool new things in the boutique. You never know who else is going to show up! What are you getting? What did you kaboodle? And most importantly show us the layouts or other projects you made with your new goodies! There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat too!

Recipe Swap Chat
Saturday, September 11th - 7:00PM MT

Join April (April Showers) and Lei (Bride) at 7pm MT in the chat room for our Monthly Recipe Swap Chat. Please check the message board on Thursday, September 9th for this month's theme and the swap details!

Scrap-lifting Challenge Chat
Monday, September 13th - 8:00AM MT

Scrap-lifting can be a wonderful starting point for your layouts! Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and guest co-hostess Becca on Monday at 8am MT to learn more about scrap-lifting, the importance of giving credit, and more! This month, we'll be scrap-lifting from Becca's layout gallery, and you can choose one of her layouts for inspiration! Hope ya'll join us!

Journaling Challenge Chat
Monday, September 13th - 6:00PM MT

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Bride (Lei) for a Journaling Challenge Chat at 6pm MT on Monday, September 13. Struggle to find the right words for your layouts? Are your layouts more decorative than descriptive of the moments you're trying to capture? Then you won't want to miss this chat - we'll have a special challenge to encourage you to journal on your pages more! See you there!

New Member Chat
Tuesday, September 14th - 7:00PM MT

Join Pat (PBarnes) and Angela (angelaNussbaum) for the New Member Chat at 7pm MT in the Live Chat room lobby. This is a great place to ask questions about getting around the Scrap Girls site or about digital scrapbooking in general - and a great place to make some new friends. All are welcome, new and long-time members included. You do need to have Java installed on your computer to access the Live Chat.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 15th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 12 Noon Eastern Time for the East Coast High Noon Crop. All coasts and time zones are welcome! These crops are designed to allow you to work on your own photos and themes simply giving participants a one hour goal and a fun, new challenge each week. On September 15th, we'll do a photo manipulation challenge! Create a layout using a photo you have manipulated in some way - change it to black and white or sepia, remove a distraction, cut out the subject - anything goes! You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you!

Heritage Crop & Chat
Thursday, September 16th - 6:00PM MT

Do you have boxes of heritage photos just waiting to be restored and scrapped? Are there family stories just waiting for you to write down and preserve? Then this is the crop for you! Join April (April Showers) and Carla (CRS) at 6pm MT for the Heritage Crop and Chat! We'll help you get motivated to scrap those heritage photos and record your family stories for future generations to enjoy.

What's New in the Boutique Chat
Friday, September 17th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) at 9am MT on Friday mornings to chat about all the cool new things in the boutique. You never know who else is going to show up! What are you getting? What did you kaboodle? And most importantly show us the layouts or other projects you made with your new goodies! There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat too!

Hybrid Craft Chat
Friday, September 17th - 6:00PM MT

Do you miss working with paper, scissors and glue to create beautiful craft projects? Hybrid Crafts combine your digital supplies with traditional scrapping methods to create amazing crafts! This month, we'll make Mobiles using your digital scrapbooking supplies! Join Carla (CRS) in the chat room on Friday, September 17th at 6pm MT!

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

September Message Board Game: Simplify September!

It's time to kick off a new season and the upcoming holidays with fun and focus on scrapbooking! And a few prizes thrown in never hurt, right? Join us on the message board this month for "Simplify September!" This Message Board game and challenge is meant to help you get those photos out of your camera and get started on your holiday cards, 2011 Calendars and focus on taking time to scrapbook regularly, despite the little speedbumps of life. When the month is over, you'll have completed several projects and have been challenged along the way.

A member of the Welcoming Committee will post a task every day from September 1st - 30th in the game thread. Don't let the idea of daily tasks intimidate you. When we say "mini," we mean it. Our goal isn't simply to keep you busy, but to direct your focus through baby-step tasks that will lead you to completed projects. Some tasks will require Message Board participation, email responses or Gallery posting. Read each daily task carefully to see what is required of you. (If nothing is specified, then it is an "on your honor" task, and we'll trust that you did as required - tasks will often build upon one another, and we'll see in later tasks that you completed earlier ones.)

PRIZES: Those who complete all tasks and submit or post required participation by 11:59pm MT on September 30th will be entered in a drawing to win one of three $10 Gift Certificates to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Those who complete just the layouts will be entered in a separate drawing to win one of three $5 Gift Certificates. (Those who complete all tasks will have their name entered in both drawings!)

Winners will be announced in the Newsletter on Saturday, October 9th.

For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Message Board.

Layout Contests:

September Monthly Layout Contest: You may not think about it often, but you do make a positive impact on those around you. For the September contest, we want you to scrap a layout about something you have done that made a positive impact on someone else. It might be in your role as a parent, a friend, a teacher, or a team member in sports or at work. Post your layouts in the September Gallery before Midnight MT on September 30th. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. If your layout is one of the two chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Club Concepts Layout Contest: Post your new layout using the current club selection (either the Scrap Girls Club or the ScrapSimple Club) in our Scrap Girls Club Members Gallery or the ScrapSimple Club Members' Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used. If your layout is chosen, it will be showcased as a Club Concepts layout winner, and you will win a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in Mountain Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-Utah-Salt Lake City' as the location for the Mountain time zone.)

Haven't received your prize as a contest winner? Please send an email to prizes@scrapgirls.com and we'll get it out to you right away!